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General Information:
Release Date: October 2022
Price Point: $24.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: Fan Channel Exclusive (BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth, Hasbro Pulse etc.)
Accessories: Blaster, Shield/Canopy
Official images and text below in italics are from BigBadToyStore and Hasbro Pulse:
The DK-3 Breaker figure is based on the 4WD Hi-luxe Diaclone figure, originally released with black, blue, and yellow deco variations. The DK-3 Breaker figure is released with blue deco, inspired by the Diaclone blue deco variant. This figure converts from robot to camper truck mode in 19 steps. Figure comes with a blaster accessory that attaches in both modes.
Includes: Figure, accessory, and instructions.
- EXPAND YOUR COLLECTION WITH SPECIAL EDITION FIGURES: Generations Selects is a fan-dedicated line of figures featuring special edition characters that can’t be found in the main line
- INSPIRED BY DIACLONE: This figure is based on the 4WD Hi-luxe Diaclone figure, originally released with black, blue, and yellow deco variations
- ORIGINAL BLUE DECO: The DK-3 Breaker figure is released with blue deco, inspired by the Diaclone blue deco variant
- CLASSIC TRANSFORMERS CONVERSION: This DK-3 Breaker figure converts from robot to camper truck mode in 19 steps
- AWESOME WEAPON ACCESSORY: Includes a blaster accessory that attaches in both modes
- Ages 8 and up
Background:
Before the Transformers brand existed, several of the molds that would eventually become Autobots existed as Diaclone vehicles. One of these was a blue version of the figure we would eventually come to know as Trailbreaker. This blue variant was available in different countries including Japan and Italy. This version was never made into a Transformers character - until now! Over the past few years there have been plenty of Diaclone homages including Deep Cover, Lift-Ticket and Burn Out. DK-3 Breaker (riffing off of his Diakron designation) is the latest addition to this Diaclone inspired section of Generations. This figure is a straight up redeco of Earthrise Trailbreaker so check out that review. This review will focus on the changes made to the figure for this release.
Packaging:
Like previous Generations Selects releases, Breaker is packaged inside a brown cardboard box with a lid that flips up to reveal the figure inside. However, some changes have been made between the Selects boxes of previous years and this one. First, the artwork on it is much more ornate. In the past, the box was largely plain with a sticker in front giving most of the detail about the figure inside.
This time out, the box has a huge graphic of the figure inside printed on it in black. The back and inside of the box both feature the Legacy logo, which puts this figure in three categories: Generations, Legacy and Selects. This is a really cool design choice as it helps one see who is in the box without having to stare at the sticker in front. Open the box and you'll find the figure inside attached to a cardboard tray. Past Selects releases used plastic, but Hasbro is currently working to eliminate as much plastic as possible from their packaging and this is part of that initiative. Be sure to flip the cardboard tray over to find his accessory wrapped in tissue paper. It would be very easy to lose it otherwise. The instructions are set under the tray and figure.
Accessories:
There are two accessories included with this figure:
- Blaster: This weapon is the same accessory that was included with Trailbreaker. It fits over his hand, hiding it to give the illusion that he has swapped out his hand for the "blaster hand". You can attach a Blast Effect to the end. This piece is blue plastic with the weapon barrel painted silver.
- Canopy/Shield: In vehicle mode Breaker has a boxy canopy towards the rear. This piece can be detached to form a shield. There is a 5mm peg inside of it allowing you to attach it to his fists or arms. Because part of this piece wraps around you are a bit limited as to where you can attach it, but I find it connects to his forearms just fine. This piece is blue with some deco from the vehicle mode on it (more on that below).
Robot Mode:
When Takara created the various "Robot Hilux 4WD" variants in the Diaclone line, the blue version of the figure just swapped out blue color for others, leaving most of the rest of the figure chrome and red plastic. Given this, it is no surprise that the designers just swapped out Trailbreaker's black plastic and put blue plastic in its place. The rest of his parts are the same as those on Trailbreaker. The forearms and thighs are silver. The knee sections are red and the translucent windshield piece is smokey grey. The paint in this mode is a bit different than Trailbreaker's, but not in a crazy significant way. Like Trailbreaker, he has a giant Autobot symbol tampographed on his torso. The lower legs have silver paint on them and the weapon that slides over his fist has silver on it. Where he differs is the head area. The eyes on this figure are red (instead of Trailbreaker's blue) and the sides of the head feature silver paint where Trailbreaker had none. The silver paint on the sides of the head is a direct callback to silver parts on the blue Diaclone Robot Hilux 4WD robot head. Also, the weapon mounted on his back has been painted silver while it was unpainted on Trailbreaker.
I am usually a huge proponent of Diaclone inspired figures. However, this particular deco isn't the most exciting since so many of the colors carry over from Trailbreaker. It's cool for sure and I'm glad it exists, but I think this figure could have really used an alternate head to differentiate itself from Trailbreaker more.
Functionally speaking all the joints on my copy of this figure are just as tight as those on Trailbreaker. The accessories all attach just fine as well.
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- Detach the accessories and set them aside for now.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Swing the back pack section back.
- Swing the head down into the chest.
- Rotate each forearm around so the top of the fists are facing forward.
- Rotate the arms up.
- Rotate the arms back so the arms are set pointed forward.
- Swing up the bottom section of the torso to form the front of the vehicle.
- Swing the back pack up.
- Swing each lower leg over the back of the thighs, tabbing it in to lock it into place.
- Swing the arms and the arm panels in. The arms should wind up under the front section of the vehicle mode.
- Swing the lower body back and snap it into place.
- Rotate each forearm around so the hinges face up, then swing the forearms in, tucking them against the bottom of the vehicle.
- Swing the back pack down and tab it in against the arm panels and the back of the vehicle.
- The canopy cover can be attached to the "backpack" section.
- The blaster can be attached to the side of the vehicle.
Vehicle Mode:
In vehicle mode much of the blue plastic comes together to form the shell of the vehicle. The wheels are black plastic and the windows are smokey grey translucent plastic. The tampograph patterns are just like Trailbreaker's, featuring angled lines and the alpha numeric "4WD" near the front wheel wells. The front end of the vehicle is painted silver but there are two areas that are unpainted: the sides of the wheels and the rear lights. This is disappointing because these areas were painted on Trailbreaker. So what happened? I believe these two deco points were essentially sacrificed in order to paint the sides of the robot head and the weapon barrel behind the head silver. Truth be told I really wish the designers would have splurged to at least paint the rear lights. This is the third use of this base tooling (remember, it started as Hoist). It really deserved to look more distinctive.
Final Thoughts:
Of all the Diaclone based figures released in the last couple years DK-3 Breaker is probably the least exciting, but at the same time I cannot deny how cool it is that this figure even exists. A decade ago having a figure like this at retail (and not just relegated to a Convention exclusive) would have been almost unthinkable. I find myself less than enthused by the lack of a new head and the deco, yet at the same time I'm glad my Diaclone Universe shelf just grew by one. Recommended mostly for folks who want to expand their Diaclone inspired Generations collection. Otherwise, if you already have Trailbreaker you're all set.
Pros:
- Excellent sculpt (new head or no).
- Pays homage to the Diaclone line.
- Good articulation.
- Good play value.
Cons:
- Could have used a new head sculpt.
- The deco in vehicle mode could have been stronger to differentiate it from Trailbreaker's deco more.
